I've thought about LT and VO2 testing. I'm not sure how I could use the information for anything other than a scientific curiousity, though, so I've never considered it much further. Field testing seems much more applicable to training and racing.

I find the same thing with cars I work on. New engineers want to do all sorts of science experiments, which, no doubt, are cool in a geeky sort of a way. When I ask the question, "Now you're going to spend $XXXX to do 'Y'. How is that going to make the car faster?" I often get blank stares. If you have everything in place to actually use the information (i.e. simulations, etc.), then you can use the info. If you can't afford the whole ball of wax, though, you're really just pissing in the wind.

It's the same deal with lab testing in cycling. If you can do regular tests, adjust your diet (medical 'preparations' in times past) and training schemes and possibly even the races you do (i.e. you're a pro), then it makes sense. If you're not into it that serious, though, it's more of just a data point in space, which tells you quite little on it's own. You'd probably be better off spending that money somewhere else.

Did 5' intervals today, and they're getting better and better. Between 4.2 W/kg and 4.4 W/kg. So I'm likely finally back over 5 W/kg for CP5. Sheesh.

Oh, and here's a cool motorpacing idea... (2nd Garmin):
http://www.cyclingdirt.org/speaker/2...r-Creek-Canyon

Day 2 of rest week. Legs still have a lot of fatigue in them. Honestly, I wasn't aware of how junked they really were. Gonna go pedal here in a bit.

Rolling with a PT wheel instead of the Quarq right now. Need to order a spider for the Specialized cranks but the Quarq needs to go first.

Setup a working / training station. Bike on a trainer with two saw horses and a plank with a laptop over the bars. Tres fancy, but dammit it works. Got in an hour while responding to people not being to smrt.

Well done...
For those who may not get the reference:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DhrfhjLd9e4

Some short intervals before the race this Saturday. Then rest tomorrow + Thursday and then a quick spin day on Friday.

edit : Plus 2.8 mile jog with the gf tonight.

I've never understood the angst to testing. I only test twice per year. One to begin and one mid season. I've applied this over to running as well over the last year. You should be able to "feel" FTP changes if you take time to learn the principle and not count on BF to be your gauge.

And testing for bike is super simple at the end of a rest week if you MAP test. Only takes half hour, tops.

2 hours up in the hills, and a 20' interval.

Damn those last two minutes took forever!!

Peaking right now. TSB -1.9 with a few days to go. Went out and did some 1 minute intervals. Hit a new 1min PR by 36 watts, and I was holding back just slightly, because it was the first one.

Off tomorrow, hard and short Thursday, little spin on Friday, crush on Saturday.

Another rest day, this one unplanned. Ah well, life gets in the way sometimes.

Sprint efforts last night...OUCH! This is how it felt: My legs -> :trainwreck: <- Pain

Then 14 hours later (this morning) 2x20s, it was a little harder because of only 14 hours of rest when my legs were already ruined but I was still able to produce the same efforts compared to my other 2x20s. I'd say the last 2 rides were successful. Rest tomorrow (Y).

5x5' plus 8x15" on the trainer this morning. Good sweat puddle on the garage floor.

2x20's this morning

I started out wayyy to hot on the first one (stupid heart rate); those middle 10' or so sucked bhalls but i suffered through it.

The second one went much better.

8 sprints today. First time over 1600W in over a year. Hit those numbers on two of the sprints. Legs are torched.

Nice.. what's the 5-sec w/kg?

Pretty sure I should be doing more specific training. Original schedule got FUBAR'd (okay, more like FUBSR'd*), and I haven't revised my spreadsheet. Planned peak pushed back 2 weeks or so, so I'm still fumbling through my first build period. I'm not sweating it much cause I'm still going to be faster than ever. But when the hell do I need to start doing sprint work? A month before my target race? Two weeks? Not sure. I do know that my sprint tank is currently reading 'E' whenever we get after it on the fast group rides, and that needs to change since my big races are crits.

*F'd Up But Still Recognizable

Thanks. Testing next week, but guessing 18W/kg

So what's the consensus on training while sick? I have a head cold that I think is trying to sneak its way into my chest.

I believe the conventional wisdom is above the neck: go. Below the neck: stay. Fever/chills/vomiting/diarrhea: definitely stay.

You may just have a head cold with postnasal drip. I'd go easy, but watch it.

rest. I've ruined a month of training becuase of pneumonia (maybe even a bit more)

buy a pack of cold-eeze and a few gallons of orange juice and sweat the sickness right out. either that, or make it worse and end up on the couch for a month.

IME, rest and hydration work the best. If you go out on the bike, don't go harder than endurance pace. Lay off the fruit juice, it'll just make you fat; the time for vitamin C intake is before you get sick, it doesn't help when you're already wheezing.

My thought was to commute tomorrow, see how that feels. It's only about 10 miles each way. Thanks for the advice all.

This too:

http://dealseekingmom.com/files/2010...nus-Rinse1.jpg